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New Apple TV to Start at $149, Feature Universal Search With Siri

I was excited when I heard that this model was going to be more expensive because that suggests that it was going to be a more significant update. But this story and the one from Gurman on 9to5Mac seem to suggest it might not be so elaborate. Don't get me wrong—App Store and Search are a big deal. But those are software upgrades. Why is this thing $149 if it just has a standard black remote and the same storage?

Siri just adds a microphone. The A5 chip used in the 2012 model was first released a year earlier in the iPad Air 2, so it's not like using an A8 should add to the price since it will be a year old. I hope there is a new remote because remote selection is my biggest gripe with the current Apple TV. It's clunky. I also hope Apple designs their own game controller for it. Hopefully the larger box size suggests some bigger under the hood upgrades. Maybe we will get some extra graphics cores for playing games? If it has any sort of multitasking then it will probably need 2GB of RAM. The A8X has both more graphics cores and more RAM, but the article states it will be the A8. 16GB of storage isn't going to hold many games but might be manageable with the new iOS 9 features.

I was excited about this release but now I'm trying my best to not get my hopes up.

I wish they would just do this:
  • Low end tiny $99 model (maybe a stick?) with A7, 1GB RAM, 16GB storage (can do video streaming at 1080p, casual gaming, apps)
  • High-end $249 model with A8X (or A9, etc), 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, game controller (can do video streaming at 4K, moderate level gaming at 720p or 1080p (think Nintendo-class range), multitasking for PIP, accessing search, responding to apps, etc)
I guess what I'm saying is that I want Apple to make an all-in-one entertainment and gaming console. Something with the media features of the Xbox and PS but with a better interface and casual gaming capabilities. Something that would be fun in the living room to play with my kid. Something that integrates with the Apple ecosystem all in one place and runs my future home automation tasks.
 
Ludatyk said:
I'm hoping when Plex is added as an app.. That Plex library shows up in search results. I think that would be awesome!
Click to expand...

I'm hoping for the iOS Air Video app on Apple TV.

Im not a Plex user but understand that it needs to keep the library in sync. Air Video lets you navigate your existing folder structure real time. It transcodes other file formats and streams well. No syncing. No nothing. Just click and play. It's as easy and effective as anyone could ever hope for. Is there any advantage Plex has over this?
 
Something else that I haven't heard mentioned is this: The new Apple TV should support 802.11ac wifi. So shouldn't Airplay be a lot smoother and have a faster response time? Maybe much like the Apple Watch, the new Apple TV will run apps and games off of a user's device. But hopefully with much less lag. It's also possibly it could just load them off the device but run them on the Apple TV. Perhaps that is also how they could lower the storage space requirement. Loading an app from an iPhone or iPad over AC wireless wouldn't take long at all. But then again AC hasn't been around very long so many people don't have the newest router. Hmmm…it's going to be interesting to see what they do next week!
 
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nrose101 said:
They need to support 4k + add 4k movies to iTunes. Apple needs to be the leader in things again instead of playing catch-up.
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No kidding. If so it just shows they are a follower in this area. 4k is catching on huge. If not I will be getting a new Roku when it come out.
 
Simple question. Can an A8 chip decode @4k.

If not, then you have your answer.

That aside, I think the lack of 4K will be determined by whether the HDMI port is v2.0. If not, then there is no software upgrade in the world that will get true 4k.
 
JoeShades said:
4K is not going to be relevant for years. Most 4K you get will be highly compressed, Eat through Caps that are going to be around for a long time. The 1080P netflix super HD on the Apple TV 3 looks great so for people to complain about lack of 4K is just people looking to complain about something
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Have you seen the HEVC codec (aka H.265). The current iTunes and AppleTV only use H.264 (aka MPEG-4 Part 10). H.265 is the future and supports 4K video for the bandwidth of 1080p H.264. Cool eh! I am saying 4K is closer than you think.
 
So whats changed? looking at the report just a search function and Siri, how crap is that.
It needs content, it needs to be much more open and not tied to the lame dog iTunes, it needs to support DNLA, allow developers to produce apps, sort out the poor performance of airplay, sort out the no Dolby via HDMI and allow much more regional content from local cable/satellite providers.

I dont give a damn about the colour of the remote of the inclusion of siri all of which do nothing.
 
AFEPPL said:
So whats changed? looking at the report just a search function and Siri, how crap is that.
It needs content, it needs to be much more open and not tied to the lame dog iTunes, it needs to support DNLA, allow developers to produce apps, sort out the poor performance of airplay, sort out the no Dolby via HDMI and allow much more regional content from local cable/satellite providers.

I dont give a damn about the colour of the remote of the inclusion of siri all of which do nothing.
Click to expand...

More open, like an App store, try paying attention. And actually inclusion of Siri does alot. more has changed than just the color of the remote
 
Will storage be required for the apps store or will it be needed just for game? I could care less about gaming on the ATV and $150 is more than comparable units already. Unless Siri is vastly improved from my iPhone 6, I'm not jumping up and down about it's inclusion
 
BJMRamage said:
the search isn't something i am SUPER EXCITED about...this is something that could have been done with typing years ago.

I hope this isn't a KEY FEATURE
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While I agree it could have been done with typing years ago, it's still something to get excited about. Hopefully it means that I don't have to search Netflix, then HBO Now, Then Showtime, then iTunes for a movie. Hopefully it also means that it will automatically search other services that are available on the Apple TV that I don't even bother to search now, and will uncover hidden caches of free viewing possibilities that I didn't know were even there. That's huge for me.
 
HenryDJP said:
What's wrong with them playing catchup. I would honestly like to see great innovations from other companies for Apple to follow. In turn we will see better stuff from Apple. Expecting Apple to continually be the one and only leader is asking too much, IMO.
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4k is not new. I've been watching material for a year and a half already on Netflix. Remember the days when Apple was on the leading edge...no more floppies, no more serial ports, cinema displays, base stations. Now they wait for a couple years on other companies laurels and try to make it a little better.
 
JoeShades said:
really? where is this new 4K Roku? oh wait there is not one
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But there will be one soon. If Roku announced a new box without 4k tomorrow then they would be panned - as should Apple be derided for this. I can buy a chinese android box that does 4k today.

Apple TV is not an annual refresh. No 4k now means no 4k in 2+ years time.

My cable connection can do 50Mbps and that is a low-end offering. Easily enough for 4k with a good CDN to back it up.

But hey... as long as there are new watch bands in different colours then the fanboys will be happy.
 
JoeShades said:
More open, like an App store, try paying attention. And actually inclusion of Siri does alot. more has changed than just the color of the remote
Click to expand...

You don't know that yet, nothing has been announced... this is all "rumour" and or speculation at best....
 
SEARCH?!?!?! How about a list of ALL the content without hiding it behind each firewall

then I can switch off everything I don't want to see, and only get what I want

then have a suggestion box on the side, for recommendations

How is this a hard UI to build, Apple thinks Google is it's enemy so much that they are copying them

You Do You Apple, Stop following somebody else!!
 
macpro2000 said:
4k is not new. I've been watching material for a year and a half already on Netflix. Remember the days when Apple was on the leading edge...no more floppies, no more serial ports, cinema displays, base stations. Now they wait for a couple years on other companies laurels and try to make it a little better.
Click to expand...
AND is the Roku or other popular streaming set top boxes in 4K?
 
AFEPPL said:
You don't know that yet, nothing has been announced... this is all "rumour" and or speculation at best....
Click to expand...

if it is all just speculation why are you complaining about what it doesn't have? These rumors are from people that are well connected not for some kid in his mom's basement. It will have an App store
 
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